Rev. Peter J. Haugen
St. Paul Evangelical
Lutheran Church
One stanza of that beautiful hymn “Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You” has been running through my mind for months: “Cast afar this world’s vain pleasure / And boldly strive for heav’nly treasure. / Be steadfast in the Saviour’s might. / Trust the Lord, who stands beside you, / For Jesus from all harm will hide you. / By faith you conquer in the fight. / Take courage, weary soul! / Look forward to the goal! / Joy awaits you. / The race well run, / Your long war won, / Your crown shines splendid as the sun” (LSB 668:2).
The biblical promises explicitly stated here are certainly beautiful, comforting, reassuring: “Trust the Lord, who stands beside you.” “Jesus from all harm will hide you.” “By faith you conquer in the fight.” “Joy awaits you.”
So, too, are the implied promises: We “boldly strive for heav’nly treasure,” which is only possible if there is in fact a heavenly treasure for which to strive. We are reminded that it is the Savior’s might that keeps us steadfast. We “look forward to the goal,” ever keeping fixed before our eyes the truth that this world is not the end. The full consummation of our salvation is coming, the “heav’nly treasure” which has already been secured.
This is well worth contemplating. But the line that has been especially present with me is “Take courage, weary soul.”
There is for many of our neighbors, for many of our brothers and sisters, for many of us right now a struggle with weariness. Not tiredness, that blessed companion that so often comes to us at the end of a long day of honest labor or joyous fellowship with friends and family, ushering us into refreshing sleep. But weariness, that bone-crushing exhaustion that makes the labors of the day difficult at best and impossible at worst, that invader that causes us to be heavy laden and is so often accompanied by his friends depression and despair.
This weariness is what so many are enduring right now. Pray for those around you. Encourage them. Love them in the midst of their sorrow.
It is to just such people that this hymn is speaking. “Take courage, weary soul.” “Take courage” in the fight. It is not lost. Victory is already secured, the prize already won. Our Lord says, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9b-10) He has chosen us Christians, chosen us in Christ, is with us even now in the midst of ongoing struggles and uncertainties. He will strengthen us, help us, uphold us with his righteous right hand.
So “take courage, weary soul,” keeping your eyes ever towards the goal, resting even now in the peace of your Lord. Amen.